Customer Reviews

French Food at Home

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a gift for those of us with neither the time nor the patience for classical French technique! From the "helpful hints" to the wry comments, this book makes French cooking a lot of fun, not just accessible. I have yet to make anything that disappointed even my finicky five-year old. And with the increasing emphasis on fresh, seasonal fare, this book has been a great source of ideas for things to do with (even more) tomatoes, corn, peaches, etc., etc. No matter your skills, or lack thereof, in the kitchen, you will find yourself reaching for this book again and again.

What I wouldn't give to be invited to Laura Calder's house for a meal. If she is delightful in person as she is in print, I would be in for a real treat. French Food At Home has turned me into a fan of French cooking -- at least the way Laura does it. Who ever would have thought that these simple recipes could yield such succulent results?! You know a meal is good when you can't help but smile from its deliciousness in mid bite. But this is French Food At Home throughout. I've made the Pineapple Tuilles, Summer Lentil Salad, Thyme Licks, Leek Tart, Spiced Almonds, Coffee Chop and all were hits. And remember not to skimp on the ingredients as this is key. Buy the freshest that you possibly can, follow Ms. Calder's witty and interesting recipes and enjoy the deliciousness and compliments that are sure to follow. Bon Appetit!

I am a big fan of Laura Calder's show of the same name (on the Lifestyle Food channel here in Australia). She is great fun, quirky, a real Francophile, and cooks great French food easily and with charm.

Her scrambled eggs made just with butter and separated eggs is some of the best food I've ever cooked or eaten.

It was because I wanted to have that recipe (and others like it) that I bought this cookbook. I was disappointed to find that the egg recipe she has in the book is not the same as the one on the show.

I was also disappointed that the book is all text. I was expecting to have pictures of the finished dishes at least.

So, I'm afraid the book has left me a little disappointed because the show had set my expectations much higher.

This is a fantastic book both to read as well for its recipes and cooking advice. Laura Calder obviously enjoys feeding her friends good, simple and delicious food without any fuss - not difficult, ornate French dishes that may keep you in the kitchen all day . Her recipes are at the same time simple to understand, easy to execute and simply delicious. I have used her recipes to put together several dinner parties for my friends, and I didnt spend the day or the evening in the kitchen. Her writing is both warm an funny - an excellent read in itself! Highly recommended!

I don't know why this book has been overlooked, but it is a treasure. Laura's writing style is light and personal; reading along, you come to feel that you're cooking with a good friend in the kitchen. Of the recipes I've tried, all have been stellar. I've modified her lemon tart recipe with a different crust; it is by far the best lemon tart I have ever tasted. The recipes aren't fancy, either, in terms of effort in the kitchen, but the dishes look and taste like you're a food guru. Lemon Spinach, for example, is way simpler than pie, but elevates this vegetable from its usual sorry heap into something bright and mysterious. Savory Carrot Cake, a recipe I've seen nowhere else, is a marvelous, light velvety concoction that makes everything else on the plate taste better. I don't understand it, but there it is. Best of all, she demystifies Tarte Tatin, the French version of apple pie. That alone is worth the price of admission, but to top it off, nearly all of the recipes are healthy and good for you (but you know you're going to eat that walnut tart anyway).

I have shelves full of cookbooks. This is one of four books that I regularly return to.

I first found this book in the library, and was enjoying cooking from it so much that I didn't want to take it back. I've gone and gotten myself a copy, and cooked many of the recipes from it, and each one has been delicious and fairly simple to make. The instructions are clear, and as others have mentioned, she's a very engaging and amusing writer. I have a lot of cookbooks, but this has quickly become a favorite.

The real magic in this great book is that it's approachable and inventive. It's full of things you'll actually make. Things that taste good and look good. But don't let the simplicity fool you--the flavors are fresh and surprising. And Calder's heatnotes are a joy. Encore!

Laura Calder has written a miraculous cookbook. She has taken the mystery and difficulty out of cooking French food at home. The recipes are inventive, clear and easy to make. And taste nothing short of fantastic. Plus, her writing style is engaging, knowledgable and eminently readable. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough for anyone who loves to food and loves to cook.

I really loved this book for the most part - it is well written and her recipes are not complicated. She makes french food seem less intimidating. I have made the Salmon Camembert (delicious), Wine Sausages (easy and rich), Beet Stacks (impressive - a burst of different, complex flavors and very gorgeous to look at); as well as the Potato Gratin and The Lemon Tart Of My Dreams. The last two recipes have some minor problems - both were rather runny - especially the tart. The tart had the best flavor of any lemon tart I have ever had, but I was disappointed with the texture. It might either need to be cooked a little longer than the directions, it may need a thickener of some sort - or it may simply need to rest overnight in the refrigerator. I am not sure which is the best way to correct this. I will try it again and try to perfect this thing. The taste alone is worth the effort!

Other than those minor problems, everything in this book is doable and I will certainly be trying more!

I studied French cooking 30 years ago and thought I would never need to buy another cookbook on the subject. I couldn't have been more wrong. Laura's book is a delightful addition to other tomes such as 'Mastering the Art of French Cookery' but much less intimidating to the average cook. The steamed fish dish 'Pink & Green Papillotes' has already entered family legend and is indicative of her elegant but simple style of cooking. Laura has captured the essence of French food without the fussy touches. Try and catch the TV show of the same name as well.